Motor-controller.



A. J. HORTON.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1 913.

///////I Ill/If v Patented Dec. 29, 1914. 6W1.

55mm Ql'ari f forfan- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. HORTON, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Application filed November 22, 1913.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT J. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vhite Plains, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in circuit controllers. It is particularly applicable to controllers for motor operated printing presses, but, of course, certain features thereof may be advantageously employed in other relations.

My invention has among its objects to provide a controller whereby various different circuit connections and combinations of connections may be effected by a minimum number of control switches.

A further object is to provide a controller for motor-operated printing presses, and other motor-driven machinery, whereby the starting and stopping of the motor for inching and for running and also the speed regulation of the motor for running may be effected by dilferent operations of two control switches.

A further object is to provide a simple, compact and conveniently controlled pushbutton station for the aforesaid and other purposes.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of more fully and clearly disclosing the nature and advantages of my invention I shall describe the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that my invention may be embodied in other forms and used in other relations.

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a controller particularly applicable to motor-driven printing presses;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show a mechanical emhodiment of the control station schematically illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1. I have shown therein a series motor 1 having an armature A and a series field winding F, it being understood that any other preferred type of motor might be employed.

or controlling this motor I have shown is responsive main switch 2 and an 'remageetically operated rheostat 3 hav- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 802,533.

ing a resistance R in series with the motor.

The rheostat is of a conventional type, being provided with a plurality of switch arms 4 adapted to be moved successively into en- I gagement with cooperating contacts 5 to short-circuit the resistance R in steps. These arms 4 are operated by a solenoid 6. Of course, in practice any preferred types of control elements might be substituted for those illustrated.

The main line switch 2 and the rheostat 3 are adapted to be controlled from a pushbutton station comprising two push-button switches 7 and 8. The switch 7'is provided with a contact disk 9 having cooperating up contacts 10 and cooperating down contacts 11. The switch 8 is provided with a contact disk 12 having cooperating up contacts 13 and cooperating down contacts 14. The contact disk 9 of the switch 7 normally bridges the up contacts 10, while the contact 12 of switch 8 normallv stands between and out of engagement with both sets of its cooperating contacts. As will hereinafter appear. both contacts are spring-pressed toward their up contacts and are provided with adjustable up and down stops whereby they may always be operated in the desired manner by depression and release of their respective buttons and whereby the movement thereof to the desired degree is positively limited by the stops.

Briefly described, the push-but on switches 7 and 8 function as follows: In the relation illustrated they enable the motor to be set in operation at slow speed by depression of the switch 8 and stopped by depression of the switch 7. If the switch 8 he released to normally bridge its up contacts. then upon its movement to down position. as aforesaid, it will start the motor and when released will effect acceleration of the motor to normal speed, and. as in the previous instance, the motor may be stopped by depression of the switch 7. In another relation either one of the push-button switches may be pressed to start the motor and released to automaticallv stop the same, thereby providing for inching or teasing of the press.

The functions of the push-button switches will now be more specifically described in connection with the circuit arrangement illustrated.

I Vith the push-button switch '7 in the position illustrated depression of the pushbutton switch 8 completes a circuit from supply line L by conductor 15 through the operating winding of switch 2, by conductor 16 through the down contacts of switch 8, by conductor 17 to line L. Switch 2 thereupon closes, establishing circuit from line L by conductor 19 through said switch, by conductor 20 throughthe resistance R, by conductor 21 through the motor armature and series field winding to line L. The motor circuit is thus completed and the motor operates at slow speed with all of the resistance R in circuit therewith. Switch 8, when'released, returns to the position illustrated, thereby interrupting the energizing circuit of main switch 2. Switch 2, however, is maintained energized by a circuit extending from conductor 16 through the upcontacts of switch 7 and through resistance r by conductor 22 through an auxiliary switch 2 on the main switch 2, by conductor to line L. Under these conditions it will be seen that the motor may at any time be stopped by depression of switch 7 to denergize the switch 2 and interrupt the motor circuit.

Assuming the motor to have been started, as just described, it may be brought up to ,normal speed by elevation of the switch 8 to bridge its up contacts 13. Thereupon circuit is closed from conductor 20 by. conductor 24 through the operating solenoid 6 of rheostat 3, by conductor 25 through the up contacts of switch 8, by conductor 26 to conductor 22 and thus to line L, as already traced. Rheostat 3 thereupon operates to remove the resistance R from the motor circuit, bringing v the motor up to normal speed". Under these condition-s the motor may also; be stopped at any time by depression of push-button switch 7 to open the maintaining circuit of the main line switch 2'. Switch 2 upon denergiza-tion opens the energizing circuit of the rheostat 3, thereby insuring the return of said rheostat to initial position prior to restarting. Assume now that it is desired to momentarily start the motor for inching. This may be accomplished in either one of two ways. First, when the switch 3 stands in the position illustrated it may be accomplished by depressing switch 7. This completes the energizing circuit ofi switch 2 from conductor 16 through the down contacts of" switch 7, by conductor 28 to conductor 17 and thence to line L. l he switch 2' thereupon responds to start the motor at slow speed. The motor continues to; operate solong as the switch'7 is held depressed. lVhen, however, the switch 7 is released it d'energizes switch 2 to disconnect the motor from circuit. Second, the inching maybe accomplished by locking the switch 7 out of engagement with its up contacts and then depressing the switch 8 to energize the switch 2, as above described. Under these conditions, however, the maintaining circuit of-the switch 2 is interrupted and accordingly release of the switch 8 effects 'denergization of saidswitch 2.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and particularly to the latter, the push-button switches are shown as mounted upon an insulating base 30 fixed within a suitable casing 31 having a removable cover plate 32 through which the push-buttons 7 and 8 extend. Both switches are of the same construction and accordingly a detailed description of one will suflice. -Referring to switch 7 its contact disk 9 is loosely mounted upon a reciprocable spindle 33 fixedto the push-button and having a bearing 34 in the rear wall of the casing. The disk is confined between a collar 35 fixed to the spindle 33 and a coil spring 36 surrounding the spindle and bearing against the push-button. A second coil spring 37 is arranged on the spindle 33 between the collar 35 and the rear wall of the casing and this spring biases the spindle 33 to the left and accordingly tends to. press the disk 9 into engagement with its up contact 10. The push-button serves to move the contact disk 9 in an opposite direction against the action of the spring 37 and thereby move it away from the contact 10 and into engagement with the contact 11. The contacts 10 comprise conducting strips secured to the insulating base 30 and having hooked extremities 38 to engage the upper face of the disk 9'. other hand, comprise angle pieces secured to the base 30 and disposed to engage the under face of the disk.

' The adjustable stops for the switches heretofore referred to comprise pins 39' and 4'0 on push-button 7 and pins 41 and 42 on push-button 8. The pins 39 and 420' on the push-button 7 are disposed at right angles and are adapted to respectively abut against the outer-and inner walls of the cover 32 on the casing. The cover, however, is provided with a slot i3 disposed radially to the push-buttons, whereby the pins when alined therewith may pass through said cover. The alinement' of the pins with. the recess is effected by rotation of the pushbutton. When it is desired to have the switch 7 normally stand in the position shown in Fig. 1', the pin l0 is alined. with the recess 43, whereby the sprin 37 forces the push-button outwardly unti, the disk 9 engages contacts 10; Such a rotative position of the push-button constitutes the on position and under these conditions when the push-button is pressed the pin 39' abuts against the front of the casing to limit the inward movement. of the pushbutton to prevent the disk 9 from engaging contacts 11. For enabling'useof'the' switch 7-for inching the push-button is depressed The contacts 11, on the until the pin 40 is freed from the recess 43 and then rotated clockwise until the pin 39 registers on said recess. Under such conditions the pin 40 abuts against the inner side of the casing holding the contact 9 out of engagement with contact 10 while the pin 39 is free to enter the recess 43 and thus permit pressure of the push-button to move the contact disk 9 into engagement with contacts 11. Thus with the first-mentioned adjustment of the push-button the same may be operated to break contact between the disk 9 and contacts 10, the spring 37 automatically restoring the parts to normal position upon release of the push-button, whereas with the second adjustment the spring 37 holds the disk 9 out of engagement with contacts'll, while the pushbutton is operable to move said contacts into engagement. push-button S are also disposed at right angles and abut respectively against the outer and inner wall of the front casing. In this case, however, the casing is provided with two slots 45 and 46 for the pins, said slots being so disposed as to permit alinement of said pins therewith simultaneously. For normally holding the disk 12 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pin 41 is alined with the slot 45, while the pin 42 engages the inner wall of the casing. Under such conditions the pin 42 acts as a stop to hold the disk 12 out of engagement with the contacts 13, while the pin 41 is adapted to enter the slot 45 and thereby permit depression of the push-button 8 to move the contact disk 12 into engagement with contact 14. This rotative position of the push-button constitutes the slow speed position. When it is desired to use the switch for acceleration then the button is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction until pin 42 registers with slot 45 and pin 41 registers with slot 46. Thereupon the restrictive effect of the pin 42 is eliminated and the spring 37 forces the push-button outwardly until contact disk 12 engages contact 13. Also, under these conditions, the restrictive effect of the pin 41 is eliminated, whereby the push-button is free to be pressed inwardly to move the disk 12 from engagement With contacts 13 and into engagement with contacts 14. Thus, under the first adjustment of the button 8 the contact 12 is free to be moved into and out of engagement with the contacts 14 to lock the same against operation to engage contacts 13, whereas under the second adjustment it may be moved into and out of engagement with both sets of contacts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting and accelerating means and a control station therefor, com- The pins 41 and 42 on the prising two pushbutton switches operable to effect starting and stopping of the motor for limited or continuous operation and to'control the speed of the motor, one of said switches being operable for both start ing and stopping.

2. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, a control station therefor, comprising two push-button switches adapted to be set in different positions to effect limited operation of the motor upon depression and release of one of the same or continuous operation upon depression and release of one of the same and stopping upon depression of the other.

3. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting and speed regulating means and a control station therefor, comprising two push-button switches, one adapted to be set in different positions whereby its depression and release effects starting and operation of the motor at either one of two speeds and the other being adapted upon depression to effect stopping of the motor.

4. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting and speed regulating means and a control station therefor, comprising two push-button switches, one adapted to be set in different positions whereby its depression and release effects starting and operation of the motor at either one of two-speeds and the other being adapted upon depression to effect stopping of the motor, said latter switch being also adjustable to a position to render the release of, said former switch effective to stop the motor.

5. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, and a control station therefor comprising two pushbutton switches, one adapted to be set to effect either continuous or limited operation of the motor upon depression and release of the other.

6. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means. and a control station therefor comprising two pushbutton switches, one adapted to be set to effect either continuous or limited operation of the motor upon depression and release of the other, and said former switch being adapted when depressed to stop the motor.

7. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting and speed regulating means, and a control station therefor comprising two push-button switches, one having two normal positions to effect either continuous or limited operation of the motor upon operation and release of the other and the latter having two normal positions and upon return to one of the same effecting acceleration of the motor.

8. In a motor controller, in combination. electro-responsive starting means, electroresponsive speed regulating means, and a single push-button switch adapted to be depressed. to energize said first-mentioned means and upon release to energize said said second-mentioned means.

9. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, electroresponsive speed regulating means, and a single push-button switch adapted to be depressed to energize said first-mentioned means and upon release to energize said second-mentioned means, and further adapted to be normally set in a position whereby its release does not effect said second-mentioned means.

10. In a controller for electric motors, in combination, electro-responsive starting means and a push-button switch adapted to i be normally set in one position whereby its depression and release effects energlzation I and denergization of said means and in another position whereby it normally completes a maintaining circuit for said means and upon depression interrupts said maintaining circuit.

11. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, electroresponsii e speed regulating means and a control station therefor, comprising two push-button switches, one controlling both of said means for starting and running and the other controlling said first-mentioned means for stopping.

12. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, electroresponsive speed regulating means and a control station therefor, comprising two push-button switches one controlling both of said means for starting and running and the other controlling said first-mentioned means for stopping, and for starting and running as long as the same is manually held depressed.

- 13. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, electro-responsive speed regulating means and a control station therefor comprising two pushbutton switches, one controlling an energizing circuit and a maintaining circuit for said first-mentioned means and the other controlling energizing circuits for both of said electro-responsire means.

14. In a motor controller, in combination, electro-responsive starting means, electroresponsive speed regulating means and a control station therefor comprising two push-button switches, one controlling an energizing circuit and a maintaining circuit for said first-mentioned means and the other controlling energizing circuits for both of said electro-responsive means, said firstmentioned switch being adapted to be normally set in either one of two positions whereby its depression effects either interruption of said maintaining circuit or completion of the energizing circuit of said firstmentioned means and said second-mentioned switch being also adapted to be normally set in either one of two positions whereby its depression closes the energizing circuit of said first-mentioned means and its release closes the energizlng circuit of said secondmentioned means or is rendered inefiective therefor.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. HORTON; I

' Witnesses:

W. L. CULLY, R. R. KNAPP. 

